NZSA Webworkshops – a series of webinars to enable ongoing professional development

Featuring writers and industry professionals offering virtual workshops on topics such as self-publishing, romance writing, poetry, structure, short stories, pitching, contract advice, dystopian writing and the business of writing.

All Webworkshops are hosted on Zoom. Zoom is free to download

Learn more about what to expect in a Webworkshop in this article from the NZ Author magazine – Spring 2020

Webworkshops – 2026 season

Kirsten McKenzie – Seen, Not Salesy. Growing Your Author Presence Online.

5pm to 7pm, Mon, 16 February

Many writers know they need an online presence but feel uncomfortable with self-promotion or unsure where to focus their energy. This workshop offers practical, low-pressure ways to build author visibility that feels authentic and sustainable. We will explore websites, newsletters, social media, and reader discoverability, with an emphasis on consistency over hype and connection over selling. Ideal for emerging and established writers who want to be visible online without compromising their creative identity. As well as earning some extra on the side!

Kirsten McKenzie fought international crime for fourteen years as a Customs Officer in both England and New Zealand, before leaving to work in the family antique store. Now a full time author, she lives in New Zealand with her family and alternates between writing time travel trilogies and polishing her next thriller. Her spare time is spent organising author events and appearing on literary panels at various festivals around the world. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.

You can also sign up for her sporadic newsletter at: https://www.kirstenmckenzie.com/newsletter/

SIGN UP FOR THIS WEBWORKSHOP HERE

Please note that the Webworkshop is held on Zoom.
Bookings close 1pm, two business days prior to the workshop or when workshop reaches capacity.
If you are unable to make the live event, all attendees can access a recording of the Webworkshop to view for one month after it is aired live.

2025 Webworkshops

Charity Norman – Who Do You Think You Are? An introduction to characterisation.

Scott Bainbridge – Murder by death; an introduction to writing true crime.
Cassie Hart – Stand in the place where you are; an introduction to world-building.
Tracy Farr – Tell it Slant: Truth and lies, and using fact in fiction.
Madison Hamill – Reconstructing Vividness: Working with lost memories in personal non-fiction.
Melissa Addey – How to Make and Use Book Trailers.
Elizabeth Heritage – Book campaign planning: media releases, pitching to journalists and more.

Siobhan Harvey – Applying for residencies, competitions and programmes – for Next Page Youth Network

“Can I just say that I am so enjoying these online classes – so much better than having to go out in the cold, wrestle for a park etc. Please keep providing these! I live part of the time on a farm and it is just so wonderful to be able to participate in these sorts of things when I am not in the city. Makes all the difference!”